A New Blog - Started April 2015

Unfortunately, Blogger Template Designer has locked and I can not change any of the fonts, colors or format. I have been working on it. So far, no luck! Ideas welcome. Please send me email from profile. Thanks.

Friday, August 06, 2010

Embarrassing - to say the least. This is the story about the chair! I can not believe I am writing about this and telling exactly what happened. But, here goes.

See the arrows that I have marked on the photo. The iron rods on the base of the chair slips into the hollow rods under the seat of the chair seat/back section. And, then there is a hole at the end of the iron rod to place a screw , so the two chair sections are secure and do not come apart when the chair is moved or if you want to rock. See the circular iron on the chair base. It provides the flexibility for the rocking motion. Got all that?

Well, now I will try to tell you the bizarre part of the incident. I had spray painted the two chairs and table which I purchased in 1974 (yes, that date is correct) a while back because they needed freshening up. I had not replaced the screws because they were very rusty and I wanted to purchase new screws. The chairs were assembled (like the next photo) and were very secure and very sturdy as long as you did not move the chair. I cautioned My Special Man about the chair and then a proceeded to sit down in the second chair. We were discussing the screws and that I needed to buy new screws. During the discussion, I wanted to show him something about the matching table and I absentmindedly tried to move my chair back not realizing that I was slipping the seat back off of the base iron rod. Thus, I fell straight back hitting my head on the cement. What you can see in the photo above is the position of the chair/seat as I lay on the cement patio floor. It was a forceful impact on my head!

This is what we bought yesterday and the chairs will be "fully assembled" ASAP. And, the knob for adjusting the height of the table will also be replaced with the new one.

I can not tell you how horrible I feel about the whole incident. I am just very thankful that the injury did not happen to someone else. That is such a blessing. And, I am blessed that my recovery is progressing nicely! It was such a reminder to SLOW DOWN AND THINK.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

When I brought the newly cut glass home and started to assemble the pictures of "Pinky and Blue Boy" the glass was not the right size even though I took the backer cardboard as a guide for the glass cutter. Much to my annoyance the backer cardboard size is just a little smaller than the opening of the frame which means that the glass does not set behind the frame edge but falls to the front. What a disappointment. I was hoping to have this project finished. But on a good note, I really like how the frame painting and matting is turning out.

It will have to wait until I return from my vacation. Sorry for my horrible picture taking . The lighting was terrible and I was rushing!

Friday, September 04, 2009

Yes, she is! You know there is always something that needs a second life or just freshening up. Or, maybe a totally new creation that just needs a little paint.

Can you tell how much I enjoy all of the "animated goodies" that are available for blogger, etc.? I really do get a big kick out of them. I guess there still is a lot of child in me!

Just a click will enlarge the photos.

Well, let's take a look of what is going on today with all of this happy spraaaaaaying. I am spraying some ordinary brown frames the color ivory so I can frame some beautiful very old prints of "Pinkie" by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) and "Blue Boy" by Thomas Gainsborough, (1727-1788). I have loved these masterpieces since I was a child. Having grown up in Southern California, I have had the opportunity to view these beautiful works of art at the Huntington Library and Art Gallery in San Marino, California on many occassions.

These little books which I purchased in 1966 (costing only $1.25) have very nice stories about the history of these paintings.

This is a project that has been waiting a very long time for me to "get-at-it". I will be placing them in my bedroom.

If you would like to see another recent spray paint project of mine, take a look at

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I love Spray Paint. It is so much fun and it is easy. I never know what my next vision will be of an object to paint. I think I could be dangerous! Let me show you my last project. This little table/chair set has been in my garden for quite some time and was beginning to look a little shabby, little rusty and a little dingy. So, look out table - here I come.

I am very pleased how it turned out. The table/chair set is prominently placed in front of the White Garden. It makes quite a brilliant presence in its "regal blue". Actually, the paint color is periwinkle. From what I have read on the blogs there quite a few of us out there that get a high with spray paint. And, I don't mean from the fumes! There is a reason why spray paint comes in so many colors. We love it.

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And, did you notice the white lilies blooming behind the table in the White Garden? Very magnificent, don't you think. They are Oriental Lilies called Simplon. It looks like a nice bumble bee came to visit. With the temperatures above 100 degrees today, the garden flowers and leaves are getting scorched! That always makes me feel sad.

Maybe, you have noticed that I do not have a lawn. That is because I am not able to use a lawn mower because of my back injuries. So, I have managed to seed the entire side yard with a ground cover called Prunella. I had a small patch of it in the garden and I collected the seeds and distributed them over the ground and nurtured it until it spread throughout the area. The next photo shows it in bloom with a purple flower.

Mother's Day 2012

Happy Family (2014)

Valentine's Day 2013

High School (1957) Friends Of Mine On The Left Live In New York and We Met In Canada In 2013

Bud Mietz

Hi - My Name is Mary

The Door Is Open. Come on in. I'm glad you stopped by and I hope you will enjoy your visit. I live in the historic town of Murphys, California which is in the Mother Lode Country were gold was discovered in the 1800's. The Murphy family "Struck It Rich" in 1848-1849. The lifestyle here is quiet and serene. A perfect place to enjoy nature, reading, being outdoors working in the garden, knitting, sewing, crocheting, cooking, baking, decorating, entertaining or whatever strikes your fancy!

I Miss You

1928 - 2014

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My Garden Shed

Food For Thought

IN MY GARDEN there is a large place for sentiment.
My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.
The Thoughts grow as freely as the flowers and the dreams are as beautiful. - Abram Urban

In the garden I tend to drop my thoughts here and there. To the flowers I whisper the secrets I keep and the hopes I breathe. I know they are there to eavesdrop for the angels. ~Dodinsky